Fylde BC Development Control Committee(DCC) sensationally rejected the proposed housing development on land north of Mowbreck Lane. The proposal by wealthy Lancashire businessman Trevor Hemmings’ Metacre for 264 houses to be sited on prime grade agricultural land.

In the public meeting held at Lowther Pavilion. Twenty one objectors many of them from Wesham Action Group (WAG) and residents of Wesham. spoke out against the proposal which had originally been recommended by the planning officer for Approval. The meeting had been proceeded by a visit by the DCC to the Mowbreck Lane site.

WAG produced a logical and sound set of arguments as to why the development should not go ahead. The proposal went against 34 planning policies and one Regional Spatial Strategy policy.

The DCC then voted on the proposal and rejected it by 13 votes AGAINST the proposal and ZERO votes FOR

A Wesham action Group spokesperson said that

“this was a victory for Common Sense and the people of Wesham, the proposal would have destroyed many acres of Prime Agricultural Land, the Biological Heritage Marsh and one of Wesham’s best assets. We would like to thank the public of Wesham, Councillor Linda Nulty and Wesham Town Council for all their support they have given us over the last 14 months. ”

However Metacre are likely to appeal against this decision and put it before a Government Planning Inspector, so this is only the first part of the battle that has been won. However this was a key decision because if this stage had been lost WAG would have had no right of appeal.